Improvement in machines for shaping piano-keys



Z Sheets-Sheet 1. S. M. COMSTOCK.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING PIANO-KEYS.

' Patented Jan. 11, 1876.

I n m w 642124 fv Z Sheets-Sheet 2.- S. M. COMSTOCK.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING PIANO-KEYS. No.171,995. PatentedJan. 11,1876.

N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASMNGTDN, b. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL M. COMSTOCK, OF CENTRE BROOK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO COMSTOCK, CHENEY & 00., OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SH'APING P IANO-KEVS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,995,

dated January 11, 1876 ;'application filed June 17, 1875.

, nying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitutepart of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, plan view; Fig. 2, front view Fig. 3, side View; Fig. 4, side view of a flat.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for shaping the black keys, or flats and sharps, of pianos and similarinstrnments. These keys require to be cut back in a circular form, on the upper end in this manner that is theobject of my invention and it consists in a disk provided with one or more substantially radialv jaws, constructed to clamp the blanks at the periphery of the disk and present them to a cutter, which will dress the rear end as the key is presented to the cutter by the revolution of the disk, the circumference or path in which diameter of which is slightly less than that of the curve required to be given to the keys. On the side of this disk one or more levers, E, are hung on a fulcrum, d,the outer end of these levers forming a jaw, e, and this jaw forced toward the disk by a spring, f, between the other arm of the lever and the disk. At the point where the jaw would bear against the surface a recess or seat, L, is formed in the disk, so as to receive and locate the key-blanks surface, to the rear, as seen at Fig. 4, and it is to shape the rear P, the heel of the key taking a bearing against a shoulder in the recess, so as to prevntits longitudinal movement. Parallel with the shaft C, and outside the disk, is another shaft, F, supported in bearings G, and driven rapidly by power applied thereto, through the pulley On this shaft is a cutter-head, L, in line with the disk, and which revolves in close proximity thereto, so that, as the key-blank passes the cutter, its heel or rear end will be dressed or"cut away by the revolving cutter and brought to the shape required.

In order to automatically open the jaws, both forthe reception and discharge of the blanks, I arrange a stationary cam, R and R, the one above and the other below the shaft C, and so that as the-inner end of the lever E passes the said cam, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the

jaws will be opened thereby-the upper one for receiving the blank to be dressed, and the lower for the discharge of the blank; and this introduction may be made while the disk is slowly revolving for the presentation of the blanks to the cutter, and as the levers pass from the cam they close again, the upper one on to the blank.

A single cam may be employed, and the removal and introduction occur at the same time; but I prefer the two cams-the discharging-cam below-so that, as the jaw opens, the key will fall from its seat without the necessity of handling.

The disk may be provided with numerous jaws, or as near together as seats can be made for the blanks, thereby allowing the cutter to be nearly constantly at work.

I claim- The combination of the disk D, constructed with one or more seats to receive the blanks, radial levers E on said disk, stationarycam or cams It, and the revolving cutter L, substantially as and for the purpose described.

S. M. COMSTOCK.

Witnesses: GILES POTTER, IRA T. PAYNE. 

